Projectile



C. B. FERREL Jan. 5, W43.

PROJECTILE Filed April 22, 1 941 ATTORNEYS.

atented Jan. 5, 1943 PROJECTHLE Clyde B. Ferrel, San Francisco, Calif.Application April 22, 1941, Serial No.- 389,726

2 Claims.

This invention relates to projectiles for use in rifles and likefirearms, and especially to a pro jectile which will be referred to as acombination cartridge and projectile.

The object of the present invention is generally to improve and simplifythe construction and operation of projectiles of the characterdescribed; to provide a projectile which has an interior chamber formedtherein to receive a propelling charge, so as to function both as acartridgeand as a projectile, and to eliminate the necessity ofextracting or expelling empty cartridges after firing; to provide aprojectile the body of which is made of heat-treated hardened steel topermit the Fig. 1 is a central longitudinal section of the same, showingthe projectile prior to loading;

Fig. 2 is an end view of Fig. 3; Fig. 3 is an enlarged longitudinalsection of the rear end of the projectile, howing a combination firingcap and closure for the rear end of the projectile;

Figs. 4 and 5 are perspective views of the two parts forming the firingcap and closure; and

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section of a portion of a gun barrel showingthe projectile placed therein in position to be fired.

When an explosive such as gunpowder is ignited it burns from the surfaceinwardly with a velocity which depends upon the pressure, but even underseveral thousand atmospheres the velocity never exceeds a few meters persecond, as the ignition is communicated from grain to grain through themass by the heat generated. On the other hand, when a high explosive isdetonated, the wave of detonation proceeds apparently through the massof explosive with a velocity of several thousand meters per second,changing the material as it proceeds. When gunpowder burns, a hightemperature is produced and a great quantity of gas ls developed, whichis employed as a propelling agent when firing a gun. On the other hand,if a detonating type of explosive is employed, the temperature iscomparatively low and the amount of gas developed is comparativelysmall; hence the wave of detonation is employed as the propelling agent,and as the greatest efiect is produced in the direction in which thewave of detonation travels, the most elfective part of a projectile isthe outer or closed end thereof. The construction and general design ofthe projectile is therefore of considerable importance.

By referring to Fig. 1 it will be noted that the projectile is fairlylong and has a main body portion A terminating in a closed pointedforward end 2. A longitudinally extending chamber 3 is formed within theprojectile, and this opens into an enlarged rearwardly flaring endchamber 4, behind which is formed an annular inturned flange 5. The bodyA of the projectile is made of heat-treated hard steel, as the forcesgenerated within it will be large, as will hereinafter be described. Asoft metal jacket or sleeve, for instance of brass or the like, isapplied to the exterior of the projectile, and is held in place by arear shoulder 6 and a forward groove 1 into which the forward end of thesleeve is spun or pressed. Shoulders 8 and 9 are formed on the sleeve,and these engage with the riding of a gun barrel to insure spinning ofthe projectile about its longitudinal axis as it is discharged, as theforward shoulder is inclined toward the nose of the projectile togradually take hold of the rifling.

When the projectile is to be loaded, the chamher 3 is first filled witha propellent charge of explosive, such as nitro-cellulose baseexplosives or the like. The two members shown in Figs. 4 and 5, alreadyassembled to form a firing cap, are inserted in the rear chamber 8 andthen spun outwardly as shown in Fig. 3, so as to be retained by thein-turned flange 5. The sleeve member shown at "I in Fig. 5 has acrossbar ll formed at its inner end. A sheet of paper or like materialis supported by the crossbar, and a flange l2, and this paper contains abutton l3 of detonating material, such as-fulminate of mercury or thelike. A cup-shaped member l4 shown in Fig. 4 is next pressed into thesleeve l0, and in this assembled form the firing cap is inserted in thechamber 4 and spun outwardly to be retained by the in-turned flange 5.

It may also be stated that the bottom of the cup It has score lines l6formed therein to weaken it. The purpose thereof will hereinafter bedescribed.

The projectile when loaded may be placed in a gun or rifie barrel, asshown at til in Fig. 6. The rearmost end of the projectile is flared, asshown at 2|, and this engages a flaring seat 22 formed in the bolt headof the gun. This head also carries a firing pin 23, and when thisstrikes the bottom l5 or the head of the firing cap, a sufficient blowis imparted to detonate the button of fulminate of mercury or the likeindicated at l3, which in turn detonates the main charge, indicated at25.

The detonation wave travels in the direction of arrow 0. with a velocityof several thousand meters per second, and as the impact of the wave ismainly against the face 26 presented by the closed forward end 2 of theprojectile, it is expelled from the outer end of the gun or rifie barrelwith a proportionate velocity. A secondary wave of detonation isreflected rearwardly from the face 26 of the projectile with a somewhatlower velocity, and is again reflected in a forward direction by theface of-the bolt 22. This re-refiected detonating wave obviously assistsin the propulsion or discharge of the projectile, and to a certainextent the force of the expanding gases discharging from the rear end ofthe projectile are also utilized, although these are of minorimportance.

When the firing pin 23 strikes the cap, the cross-bar ll functions as ananvil to insure detonation of the button I3, and when the fulminate ofmercury detonates, the end l5 of the cap bursts along the score lines 3,dividing it into a series of fingers, which are bent backwardly topermit free escape of the gases resulting from the detonation. Both ofthe sleeves I0 and It are, however, retained by the shoulder 5, and asthe fingers and the cross-bar form an integral part of the respectivesleeves the cap will be expelled with the projectile, and the barrel ofthe rifle or gun is thus instantly ready for the next projectile to befired, as there is no empty cartridge or shell to be extracted orejected.

In such firearms as machine guns, the rapidity with which the successiveshots may be fired depends to a large extent upon the time required toinsert and eject the cartridge shells. With a combination cartridge andprojectile such as here disclosed, the ejecting operation is of courseeliminated, and the rapidity with which the shots may be fired isproportionately increased. The

invention is not limited to machine guns, however, as it may be employedin connection with almost any type of rifie or gun, whether equippedwith manual or with automatic loading devices.

In as much as the explosive charge is of the detonating type, greatstrength is required; hence a projectile constructed of steel isdesirable, and preferably of a hardened steel, as the harder the metalof the projectile, the more efficient will be the impact action of thedetonating wave. Although detonating waves will pass through anymaterial, the softer the material the less efficient the impact actionof the wave; however. while this and other features of my invention havebeen more or less specifically described, I wish it understood thatchanges may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims, andthat the materials and finish of the various parts may be such as theexperience of the manufacturer and varying conditions of use demand.

Having thus described and illustrated my invention, what I claim anddesire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A tubular elongated projectile closed at its forward end and pointed,a propelling charge within the projectile, an enlarged chamber at therear end of the projectile for the reception of a firing cap, said capcomprising a sleeve open at the outer end and partially closed at theinner end by an anvil bar, an inner sleeve open at the outer end adaptedto telescope with relation to the first named sleeve and closed at theinner end by a head member, a detonating material disposed between theanvil bar and the head memher, and an annular in-turned flange on theprojectile behind which the two sleeves of the cap are adapted to bepressed to retain the cap against separation from the projectile when itis fired.

2. A tubular elongated projectile closed at its forward end and pointed,a propelling charge within the projectile, an enlarged chamber at therear end of the projectile for the reception of a firing cap, said capcomprising a sleeve open at the outer end and partially closed at theinner end by an anvil bar, an inner sleeve open at the outer end adaptedto telescope with relation to the first named sleeve and closed at theinner end by a head member, a detonating material disposed between theanvil bar and the head 5 member, an annular ln-turned fiange on theprojectile behind which the two sleeves of the cap are adapted to bepressed to retain the cap against separation from the projectile when itis fired, and score lines formed radially in the outer surface of thecap head to permit it to burst and form rearwardly bent fingers topermit free discharge of gases developed during detonation of the capand the charge within the projectile.

CLYDE B. FERREL.

